if I operate a Spark node, am I still on the hook for monthly internet costs, or is that included somehow? how does it work?
Maybe there’s a bit of a misunderstanding here.
AirNodes don’t give you internet directly, they provide internet to others (which could include yourself) in the local area, depending on the type (home broadband, cellular, etc.) and how they’re deployed. But to do that, every AirNode still needs to be connected to an internet backhaul, either through a larger upstream AirNode or directly to an ISP.
So yes, you still need to have and pay for an internet connection at the AirNode location, just like any World Mobile customer. Owning a Spark isn’t like buying a modem, it’s more like setting up a small access point that you power and connect, and you earn rewards based on how well it performs.
Technically, you could host and operate an AirNode and also be your own customer, in that case, you’d be paying a plan, hosting the node, and earning back part of that through the rewards system. But it only works if the AirNode has a working internet connection, either from your own ISP or from an upstream AirNode nearby.